Miracle Midland Area Championship at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club
by Gillan Gibson on 11 Jul 2016
9-10 July 2016
Saturday started with the rain forecast and 5 boats set sail in the Miracle Midland Championship which was run within the Leigh and Lowton Regatta.
Eamon and Thomas Cuthbert dominated the first race, but could sail no more that day. This left the door open for David and Michelle Raines who took the next two races, chased by Hannah and Nic Smith. Louis Moulden and Gillan Gibson were a consistent third in the two races they sailed and Ian Brown and Patrick Glover achieved their best place of the weekend, a third, in the first open meeting they had travelled to.
As it turned out the rain stopped during the first race and stayed away all day, much to everyone's' relief. An excellent BBQ followed by the Bottle Race and a live music rounded off a most enjoyable day.
Sunday brought sunshine, rather than the forecast rain, and a changeable wind which saw everything from light to heavy winds, plus assorted wind shifts, for the morning races. Cathy Goodwin and Leah Murphy joined the fleet as a shakedown for the Nationals in a few weeks time.
Places swapped throughout the fleet during Sundays three races but it was David and Michelle's three first places which meant they had won the regatta by race 5. They still raced in race 6, but were beaten by Hanna and Nick who were first and Eamon and Thomas who were second.
Overall it was David and Michelle first, Hannah and Nic second and Eamon and Thomas third.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm & Crew | Club | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | David & Michelle Raines | Leigh & Lowton | 3740 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | Hannah & Nick Smith | Thornbury | 3805 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Eamon & Thomas Cuthbert | Leigh & Lowton | 4016 | 1 | DNC | DNC | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | Louis Moulden & Gillan Gibson | Delph | 4100 | 3 | 3 | DNC | OCS | 4 | DNC | 10 |
| 5 | Ian Brown & Patrick Glover | Delph | 4098 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 12 |
| 6 | Cathy Goodwin & Leah Murphy | Port Dinorwic | 662 | DNC | DNC | DNC | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 |